Page 19 of The Puck Stops Here
He shrugged. ‘More important things to be doing with my time than hitting on the next hot thing I see. If your head’s down there, it’s not up here, and if it’s not up here, you’re not playing with your all.’
‘Is that why you haven’t had a relationship that lasted longer than a few months?’
She sensed the tension feed through his limbs, saw the tightness around his mouth and the stilted step he took. ‘I fail to see how that’s relevant to your article?’
No, it was relevant to Sissi’s heartbreak. Relevant to the fact that he’d left her alone in their small town, her mother dead, her father as good as… Her entire life in tatters because he’d found a new one. A more exciting one.
‘I think understanding how focused you are on the game helps people sympathise with your life choices.’
‘And you think my sex life demands sympathy?’
‘I wasn’t referring to your sex life.’
‘No?’
‘I was referring to love, Mr Carter.’
‘Love?’
‘Yes, you know, the kind that sees you married, setting up home, maybe adding a few kids into the mix…’
The kind of future he’d once promised Sienna.
Or had those dreams died with the boy who’d left Ashbury Falls?
Or had he been lying all along? Leading her on?
‘Those idealistic wants are for people who have yet to see life for what it really is.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘One big game. The only way to win is to keep it in your control.’
And hell, didn’t she know that. Didn’t she agree with him wholeheartedly. Not that she was about to admit as much. Becauseshehadn’t fooled someone else into thinking it was all possible.
‘And how does one go about that?’
‘By keeping your emotions in check. Always.’
The severity in his voice dried up her mouth. The charming affable man had been replaced by the renowned Ice King. Andthiswas the man she was going to mess with.
She adjusted her glasses, aware it was becoming something of a habit, and paused on the bottom step.
‘You, Mr Carter…’ The warmth of righteousness flowed through her veins as she tilted her head and gave him a coy smile. ‘Just get more and more fascinating.’
He blinked. Blinked again. Shocked at what he’d admitted or shocked at her response, she wasn’t sure. And then he grinned.
‘If that means you can spin it into a positive for the masses, I’m good with it.’
‘I’m sure I can dosomethingwith it.’
She stepped forward with him and – whoops! The ground disappeared beneath her heel. One minute she was upright and smiling, the next she was in his arms, one hot arm locked around her, one hot chest acting as a bumper. Oof!
So much for being all classy and elegant.
It got you in his arms though… Now, work it baby!
‘Are you okay?’
